Giant Skeleton

Giant Skeleton
Location	Firelink Shrine The Catacombs Tomb of the Giants
Drops	Murakumo Longbow
Health
NG	Varies
NG+	Varies
Souls
NG	Varies
NG+	Varies

Giant Skeletons are enemies in Dark Souls.

Location

They are primarily encountered in the Tomb of the Giants, but the Swordsmen may also be encountered in the graveyard area of Firelink Shrine.

A non-respawning Swordsman can be encountered in The Catacombs.

Description

Although the Giant Skeleton Swordsmen have a small chance of dropping a Murakumo, they actually wield a gigantic Falchion, which they can slam towards the ground in a vertical chopping motion.

The Giant Skeleton Archers wield a greatbow and shoot giant arrows. Both versions are known to use a downward kicking attack.

Strategy

Giant Skeletons are dangerous foes, but are weak to most forms of damage.

Giant Skeleton Swordsmen are vulnerable at the end of their rising animation, before becoming fully active from scattered parts: they will neither block nor attack for a two-second window.

If the player decides to face them early on in the Firelink Shrine Graveyard, wielding a large, powerful weapon can prove effective, as they stagger very easily and can get toppled with one power shot.

The several Giant Skeletons encountered early on in the Tomb of the Giants are located on small, elevated platforms. They can utilize heavy knockback to push players off an edge or lock them between Giant Skeletons and punish the player with chunks of damage to stamina and health.

Enemy information

Health and souls

Location	Health		Souls
	NG	NG+	NG	NG+
Firelink Shrine (swordsman)	268	588	500	2,000
The Catacombs (swordsman)	286	579	800	3,200
Tomb of the Giants (swordsman)	386	634	1,000	2,000
Tomb of the Giants (archer)	262	428	1,000	2,000

Characteristics

Respawn	Yes & No
Backstab	No
Damage Types	Regular / Slash / Thrust / Bleed
Abilities	Can kick the player to break poise and cause knockback.

Attacks

• Archer
• Swordsman

Attack	Damage	Attack Type	Status Effect	Parryable	Tracking	Attack Speed
Greatbow Shot	255	Thrust	None	No	Neither	Medium

Attack	Damage	Attack Type	Status Effect	Parryable	Tracking	Attack Speed
Slash Combo	314	Slash	Bleed: 33	No	Both	Medium
Sword Slam	352	Slash	Bleed: 33	No	Neither	Slow
Pound	288	Slash	Bleed: 33	No	Neither	Medium
Stomp	427	Regular	Bleed: 33	No	Neither	Fast

Defenses

• Archer
• Swordsman

Physical Defenses				Elemental Defenses			Resistances
301	211	301	376	231	204	313	S	S	S

These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.

Location	Physical Defenses				Elemental Defenses			Resistances
Firelink Shrine	282	197	282	352	216	191	293	S	S	S
Tomb of the Giants	301	211	301	376	231	204	313	S	S	S

These stats are sourced from FuturePress's Official Dark Souls Strategy Guide.

Drops

Item	Murakumo	Longbow
Drop Rate	2% (swordsman)	1% (archer)

Gallery

Wielding a bow